Clifton Hill vs Northcote

In both, most households own their home. Clifton Hill is closer to the city centre: 5.6 km, against 7.5 km.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Northcote

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (24 vs 10)
  • has more childcare (12 vs 5)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (49% vs 24%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Northcote

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($568,750 vs $675,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Northcote

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($475/wk vs $550/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Northcote

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 89/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Northcote

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 3)
  • carries lower crime risk (70/100 vs 81/100)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 89/100)
  • But Clifton Hill has more units and townhouses to downsize into (76% vs 51%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Northcote

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.1% vs 4.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Clifton Hill and Northcote drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Clifton Hill Northcote
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Clifton Hill Northcote
Walkability 89 / 99
Clifton Hill — Walkability: 89/100 Northcote — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 19 / 30
Clifton Hill — Safety: 19/100 Northcote — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Clifton Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Northcote — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 56 / 47
Clifton Hill — Low flood risk: 56/100 Northcote — Low flood risk: 47/100

Demographics

Northcote has more residents (25,276 vs 6,606); Clifton Hill has higher household incomes ($143,260 vs $118,924).

Clifton Hill Northcote
Population 6,606 25,276
+283% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.2% +2.9%
Median age 37
same for both
Median household income $143,260/yr
+17% vs other
 $118,924/yr
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+14% vs other
 $475/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Clifton Hill Northcote
0-4 5.6% / 4.6%
Clifton Hill — 0-4: 5.6% Northcote — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 10.4% / 10.4%
Clifton Hill — 5-14: 10.4% Northcote — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 3.1% / 4.8%
Clifton Hill — 15-19: 3.1% Northcote — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 4.7% / 5.2%
Clifton Hill — 20-24: 4.7% Northcote — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 21.5% / 20.4%
Clifton Hill — 25-34: 21.5% Northcote — 25-34: 20.4%
35-44 17.2% / 15.9%
Clifton Hill — 35-44: 17.2% Northcote — 35-44: 15.9%
45-54 12.5% / 15.2%
Clifton Hill — 45-54: 12.5% Northcote — 45-54: 15.2%
55-64 10.6% / 10.4%
Clifton Hill — 55-64: 10.6% Northcote — 55-64: 10.4%
65-74 9.3% / 6.7%
Clifton Hill — 65-74: 9.3% Northcote — 65-74: 6.7%
75-84 3.9% / 4.4%
Clifton Hill — 75-84: 3.9% Northcote — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 1.3% / 2.1%
Clifton Hill — 85+: 1.3% Northcote — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Clifton Hill 39.0% lone person
Clifton Hill — Lone Person: 39.0% Clifton Hill — Couple Families: 37.0% Clifton Hill — Group Household: 13.0% Clifton Hill — One Parent Families: 9.2% Clifton Hill — Other Families: 1.8%
Northcote 40.4% lone person
Northcote — Lone Person: 40.4% Northcote — Couple Families: 35.9% Northcote — Group Household: 12.1% Northcote — One Parent Families: 10.2% Northcote — Other Families: 1.4%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Clifton Hill 39.7% renting
Clifton Hill — Owned Outright: 29.6% Clifton Hill — Mortgage: 30.7% Clifton Hill — Renting: 39.7%
Northcote 38.3% renting
Northcote — Owned Outright: 30.8% Northcote — Mortgage: 30.9% Northcote — Renting: 38.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Clifton Hill Northcote
Bachelor Degree 29.1% / 26.9%
Clifton Hill — Bachelor Degree: 29.1% Northcote — Bachelor Degree: 26.9%
Postgraduate Degree 18.2% / 14.1%
Clifton Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 18.2% Northcote — Postgraduate Degree: 14.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.5% / 6.4%
Clifton Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5% Northcote — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.6% / 5.2%
Clifton Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.6% Northcote — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.2%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 5.6%
Clifton Hill — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Northcote — Certificate III & IV: 5.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.1%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Clifton Hill Northcote
England 4.3% / 3.8%
Clifton Hill — England: 4.3% Northcote — England: 3.8%
New Zealand 2.5% / 2.3%
Clifton Hill — New Zealand: 2.5% Northcote — New Zealand: 2.3%
Greece 1.3% / 3.5%
Clifton Hill — Greece: 1.3% Northcote — Greece: 3.5%
Italy 0.6% / 1.8%
Clifton Hill — Italy: 0.6% Northcote — Italy: 1.8%
Malaysia 0.7% / 0.5%
Clifton Hill — Malaysia: 0.7% Northcote — Malaysia: 0.5%
China — / 0.8%
Clifton Hill — China: not among its largest Northcote — China: 0.8%
Ireland 0.7% / —
Clifton Hill — Ireland: 0.7% Northcote — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Clifton Hill 50.8% townhouses
Clifton Hill — Townhouses: 50.8% Clifton Hill — Houses: 23.8% Clifton Hill — Flats / Apartments: 25.5%
Northcote 27.4% townhouses
Northcote — Townhouses: 27.4% Northcote — Houses: 49.1% Northcote — Flats / Apartments: 23.6%
Townhouses Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Clifton Hill Northcote
Median house price $1,607,500 $1,650,000
Median unit price $675,000 $568,750
Median land price — $1,650,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 31 sales
 23 days
from 201 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Clifton Hill Northcote
1 bed $444K / $399K
Clifton Hill — 1 bed: $444K (24 sales) Northcote — 1 bed: $399K (102 sales)

24 vs 102 sales

2 bed $755K / $645K
Clifton Hill — 2 bed: $755K (23 sales) Northcote — 2 bed: $645K (159 sales)

23 vs 159 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Clifton Hill Northcote
2 bed $1.28M / $1.32M
Clifton Hill — 2 bed: $1.28M (36 sales) Northcote — 2 bed: $1.32M (90 sales)

36 vs 90 sales

3 bed $1.65M / $1.65M
Clifton Hill — 3 bed: $1.65M (42 sales) Northcote — 3 bed: $1.65M (167 sales)

42 vs 167 sales

4 bed $2.02M / $2.27M
Clifton Hill — 4 bed: $2.02M (16 sales) Northcote — 4 bed: $2.27M (81 sales)

16 vs 81 sales

Zoning mix

Clifton Hill Northcote
Residential 53% 72%
Parks and recreation 26% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 17% 11%
Commercial 5%
same for both
Industrial 0% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Clifton Hill Northcote
New dwellings approved 1,675
across Yarra
 1,213
across Darebin
Approvals change year on year +646% +0%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Clifton Hill Northcote
Houses 3.3%
$948/wk on $1.5M
 3.0%
$922/wk on $1.6M
Units 4.3%
$608/wk on $735K
 5.1%
$550/wk on $565K

Ranking within VIC

Clifton Hill Northcote
House price Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Income Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Schools Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 4% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 13% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 65% of VIC

Liveability

Northcote is more walkable (99 vs 89).

Clifton Hill Northcote
Grade B
same for both
Score 65/100 66/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Clifton Hill carries more crime risk (81 vs 70).

Clifton Hill Northcote
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
81/100
 High
70/100
Flood Moderate
44/100
 Moderate
53/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 15
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Clifton Hill Northcote
Inside the suburb 3 6
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 2.0 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 3.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 2.7%

Schools in Clifton Hill

  • Clifton Hill Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Spensley Street Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St John's School Catholic · Primary

Schools in Northcote

  • Northcote High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Santa Maria College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Westgarth Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Northcote Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Croxton School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Clifton Hill Northcote
Supermarkets 1 5
Cafes & restaurants 10 69
Parks & reserves 10 24
Childcare 5 12
GPs 3 11
Pharmacies 0 5
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 4
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Clifton Hill Northcote
Walkability score 89/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 5.6 km 7.5 km
+34% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 14 min 17 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 128.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 566.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 3068
 2.5%
postcode 3070
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 3068
 25
postcode 3070

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Clifton Hill Northcote
Worked from Home 56.2% / 54.4%
Clifton Hill — Worked from Home: 56.2% Northcote — Worked from Home: 54.4%
Car (driver) 26.4% / 28.6%
Clifton Hill — Car (driver): 26.4% Northcote — Car (driver): 28.6%
Bicycle 6.2% / 5.2%
Clifton Hill — Bicycle: 6.2% Northcote — Bicycle: 5.2%
Train 4.1% / 4.4%
Clifton Hill — Train: 4.1% Northcote — Train: 4.4%
Walked Only 3.7% / 2.9%
Clifton Hill — Walked Only: 3.7% Northcote — Walked Only: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.2%).

Setting

Clifton Hill Northcote
Elevation 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 67 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.8 km 9.6 km

NBN connectivity

Clifton Hill Northcote
Connectivity score 77/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
3,270 premises
 7%
13,047 premises

Climate

Clifton Hill Northcote
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Clifton Hill Northcote
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³ 7.3 µg/m³
PM10 — 17.8 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.82 pphm

Council rates

Clifton Hill Northcote
Average residential rate $1,937/yr $1,764/yr
Council Yarra Darebin

Federal electorate

Clifton Hill Northcote
Division Cooper
same for both
Member Ged Kearney
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Clifton Hill Northcote
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Clifton Hill

Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Trains Trams Transport Hub Urban

Northcote

Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Nightlife Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Clifton Hill

Clifton Hill vs Fitzroy North Clifton Hill vs Fitzroy Clifton Hill vs Collingwood Clifton Hill vs Abbotsford Clifton Hill vs Fairfield

Other comparisons with Northcote

Northcote vs Thornbury Northcote vs Brunswick East Northcote vs Fitzroy North Northcote vs Fairfield
Full data on Clifton Hill Full data on Northcote
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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